Updated: Reward offered for information on fiber optic line vandals

Suddenlink announced today that it is offering a $5,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of individuals responsible for vandalizing the company's local network.

Anyone with information that might help local law enforcement officials apprehend the responsible parties should contact the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office at 707-445-7251 or that office's crime tip line at 707-268-2539.

Fiber lines within Suddenlink's local network have been cut by vandals three times in the last five days.

The most recent incident occurred shortly after 11 p.m. Monday, March 11, disrupting service to approximately 1,000 homes in Scotia and Rio Dell. Suddenlink crews repaired that damage and restored service to affected customers early this morning, March 12.

The two earlier acts of vandalism occurred Friday, March 8, between 12:00 a.m. and 2:30 a.m., disrupting service for nearly 2,000 customers in Big Lagoon, Trinidad, Scotia, Ferndale, and parts of McKinleyville and Rio Dell. Suddenlink crews were able to restore service to most of those customers by early afternoon, March 8, and to the remainder by early evening that day.

"We applaud the Humboldt County Sheriff's office for its diligent efforts to investigate these acts of vandalism," said Suddenlink Director of Operations Wendy Purnell, who is based in Eureka. "We hope this reward will encourage the sharing of information that helps identify the people responsible for these crimes and prevents them from further inconveniencing our customers."

posted 11:46 AM

From the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office:

On 03-12-2013 just after midnight the Sheriff's Office received a telephone call from a Supervisor for Suddenlink, regarding vandalism again to their telephone/cable/internet service. The location of the vandalism to the Fiber Optic Cable was located approximately 2/10 of a mile north of the south Weymouth Bluff Road on Blue Slide Road, Ferndale. An approximate 4 foot section of the Fiber Optic Cable was cut out and discarded in the brush.

The Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and recovered the 4 foot piece of Fiber Optic Cable and booked it into evidence to be fingerprinted. The Supervisor for Suddenlink estimated approximately $10,000 to repair the Fiber Optic Cable. There are currently no suspects for this vandalism. Suddenlink has since put a temporary repair on the Fiber Optic Cable to return service to their customers.

This is the third vandalism to Suddenlink's Fiber Optic Cable since Friday, March 08th, 2013. The first two vandalisms occurred in the Trinidad and Ferndale area on Friday. The total cost for repair in the first two vandalisms is approximately $10,000 dollars.

Suddenlink has informed the Sheriff's Office that they are offering a cash reward for the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects that are responsible for the vandalism to their Fiber Optic Cable.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff's Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff's Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff's Tip line at 707-268-2539.